Demonstration against Puppy Mills

This pet store opened in our town in the fall of 2006. It was the 6th store in a chain of stores opened in the western suburbs of Chicago by the same owner.

After checking in with HSUS and doing extensive online research, we gained knowledge of the source of the pups. They are gotten from puppy mills.

We were advised and given packets of info by HSUS as to how to fight against the cruelty of puppy mills.

We made banners, posters, flyers, brochures and advertisements, all costs coming out of our own pockets.

We attended city council meetings and spoke of the store and it's puppy mill connection. Our pleas fell on deaf ears.

After one of our early demonstrations, we received a threatening letter of a lawsuit from the owner, followed by a second letter a day or two later, immediately followed by the actual lawsuit papers.

We were served.

We were sued right before Christmas.

It was all a mere scare tactic.

Many months later, the owner of the store dropped the lawsuit, stating that it was 'too expensive to continue.'

It is believed that he never intended on following through with the actual suit, for he would never have won in front of a jury.

It is our opinion that he probably was hoping we would tuck our tails in and run away in fear of his threats.

We did not.

In retrospect, the scare tactics and intimidation was amusing. He hired someone to come and film our first demonstration. The person operating the camcorder would walk up to people at random and put the camera lens in their face.

He did this to me as I held up my camera and took a picture of him.

For all we know, there was no film in the camera......besides, we NEVER did anything illegal.

We follow the letter of the law with each and every demonstration that we hold.

We notify the police in advance.

This video was of our 2nd or 3rd demonstration. It was December. It was very cold.

We have had encouragement from large, national organizations as well as well known rescue groups.

On average, we have approximately 20 people demonstrate in front of the store once a month.

We have demonstrated in bitterly freezing conditions and pouring rain.

Our 2 hour discomfort is nothing compared to the lifetime agony of dogs being housed in puppy mill out-door cages. They have no respite from the freezing sleet of winter or grueling heat of summer.

This is the very least we can do for them.

We have had numerous media coverages, including headlines in a local paper and page 6 of the Chicago Sun-Times.

For more info and for contacts, please visit www.puppylawsuit.com

To help support our efforst, you can go to:
www.cafepress.com/puppylawsuit

Thank you

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• pets
• dogs
• puppies
• puppy
• mill
• demonstration
• lawsuit
• adopt
• adoption
• rescue
• save
• help
• love
• protest
• profit
• education

[PuppyLawsuit]

STORE CLOSED ! ! !

Happy day for Warrenville citizens (o:

[HappyCabbie]

OMG are you serious. Good for you I am so happy. What about the other stores this person opereates?  Keep up the good work and inform everyone never to buy from pet stores.

[PuppyLawsuit]

There are still 5 other stores. Of the 5, 2 are holding regular demonstrations to inform potential buyers that their better option is adoption.

[Kennedale01]

"We attended city council meetings and spoke of the store and it's puppy mill connection. Our pleas fell on deaf ears."

It's all about the money, all about the tax revenue, and never about the larger picture of animal welfare.

[PuppyLawsuit]

Good for you for at least trying! We had also attended city council meetings, after our first one, we lucked out in getting front page headlines the next day! Publicity is always good for getting the word out. Communication and education is vital. Try to contact local newspapers, write letters to the editors. Good luck and God speed!

[JEP942263]

Fight for those that can not fight for themselves.

INCLUDING PUPPY MILL PUPS !!!

Keep up the good work!

[Napalmxxx2]

oh, my bad on the mistake.

[Kennedale01]

Legal theft? That's not what I was referring to.

[Napalmxxx2]

what you called legal theft is actually a lil somethin called seizure or confiscation under court order which is usually done when someone is in possession of something illegal or found guilty of possessing something to use illegally.

[Kennedale01]

The store closed last year, thankfully. While I understand where you are coming from...it's still theft. Larceny (theft) is defined as "the trespassory taking (caption) and carrying away (asportation, removal) of the tangible personal property of another with the intent to deprive him or her of its possession permanently." Theft is theft, whether or not you are stealthy.

But anyways...glad to hear this store closed!

With the value of pet store puppies, it would probably be grand larceny.

[Napalmxxx2]

that wouldnt be stealing, that would be thinking for the better good, if you were stealing, you would be sneaking in and grabbing em then bouncing out without being heard or seen.

[Napalmxxx2]

I know of people who actually take better care of dogs than any pet shop owner ever could, my grandmother for example, she has a few dogs herself and their all pretty much happier than any dog in a pet shop. here's a suggestion, if you get another of those lawsuit letters, counter sue em. their trying to sue because you are using the freedom of speech to reveal the truth and they want you to stop, dont stop it, keep the flame alive.

[12quillemall5321]

Not all breeder and the stores that buy the puppies are puppy mills. This is another generalization about breeders.

I know a breeder that sell directly to store because their high prices give her a better price than risking have strangers in her home.

She only own one male and one female and restains their breeding. She shows her pets. Her home is clean and her pets are well care for.

Not all stores buy from bad breeders with multiple pets.

Do you picket kennels also? Some stink